Ulster Unionist Leader, Mike Nesbitt MLA, sent the First Minister his best wishes following the news that Mr Robinson was taken into hospital this morning.

Mike Nesbitt said: "I am sorry to hear that the First Minister has been taken into hospital this morning and I wish Peter a full and speedy recovery. Our thoughts are with him and his family."

SDLP Leader Dr Alasdair McDonnell extended his thoughts and prayers Mr Robinson as well, adding: "I am very sorry to hear that Northern Ireland’s First Minister Peter Robinson has been taken into hospital this morning.

"I would like to extend the thoughts, prayers and best wishes of both myself and my SDLP colleagues to Peter Robinson and his family at this stressful time. I wish Peter a full and speedy recovery."

Mr Robinson has endured a stressful few months. His party's electoral battle to regain the Belfast East seat in the UK parliament - which he lost to the Alliance Party's Naomi Long following a scandal involving his wife Iris in 2010 - was among the closest-contested in the general election.

And the DUP also faced fierce criticism over comments a candidate made, linking same-sex marriage to child abuse.

Tomorrow, the Northern Ireland Assembly is due to hold a crucial debate on implementation of welfare reform and Mr Robinson had warned that the power-sharing institution was in danger of collapse.